InterDigital decides not to sell itself, will chase lawsuits

updated 09:05 pm EST, Mon January 23, 2012

by MacNN Staff

InterDigital decides against sale to others

InterDigital provided mixed news to the mobile industry as it decided against exploring a possible sale. The company had decided against possible offers following a review and would instead focus on "patent sales and licensing partnerships." It declined to say who it was talking to.

Apple, Google, HTC, Samsung, and Nokia were all at one point considered candidates. Concerns had existed that one of the companies might buy some or all of the company to wield its patents against competitors.

Although claiming to focus on innovation, InterDigital has been amassing a collection of 19,500 patents that largely come from outside sources and that it has been wielding offensively against other companies. It claims that every cellular device uses its patents and has been suing many in the industry if they don't agree to a deal, usually leading to a settlement to avoid the risk of a product ban. InterDigital doesn't have any tangible products of its own.

The Pennsylvania company has made $3 billion so far in royalties from 2G and 3G hardware and sees itself making as much as $800 million a year within three to five years.

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